Assessment of Wastewater Treatment, Water Quality, and Climatic Stressors on Freshwater Resources in the European Union Compared to Serbia: Trends and Implications

The sustainable management of water resources remains critical to environmental protection, public health, and ecological stability within the European Union (EU).This study evaluates recent EU progress regarding wastewater treatment infrastructure, analyses water quality indicators including organic pollutants, nitrates, and phosphates, and examines climate-induced pressures, particularly drought events, affecting freshwater availability.Our assessment is based on statistical analyses from Eurostat and the European Environment Agency (EEA).Results demonstrate improvements in wastewater treatment connectivity, with EU average connections to secondary treatment systems rising significantly from 72.6 % in 2006 to 80.9 % in 2021.However, despite advances, water quality challenges persist, notably eutrophication driven by stable nitrate levels in groundwater (averaging 20.5 mg/l in 2021) and increasing phosphate concentrations in rivers (up by 21.3 % since 2016).Concurrently, climatic impacts, especially drought events, have exacerbated water stress, significantly affecting about 29 % of the EU territory periodically.Comparative data from Serbia reveals similar challenges but underscores significant gaps in wastewater treatment coverage and water quality, highlighting the importance of strategic regional and EU-wide water governance measures.Effective policy implementation and investment in sustainable water infrastructure are essential to counteract environmental degradation and ensure long-term freshwater security.